Rule in Focus
In the opening league match of the new season, Bayer Leverkusen encountered the new DFB rule, which states that a player must leave the field within ten seconds after a substitution. Patrik Schick, substituted in the 65th minute, took longer than ten seconds to exit the pitch. Consequently, Christian Kofane remained on the field for more than a minute until the next interruption.
Club Reactions
Sport director Simon Rolfes was initially positive: "I think it's good that this happened. Players just need to get used to going a bit faster, running or being clever about finding the right outer line. Then it won't happen." Rolfes stressed that referees were already enforcing the rule consistently in the cup and that players and officials would adapt over time.
Coach Carles Martínez expressed a more critical view: "The players run, and then it might be eleven seconds. I think we need a good balance between the intention of the rule and practice." He pointed out that players are "not machines" and sometimes need a few extra seconds.
Impact on the Match
Despite more than 60 seconds in a numerically disadvantaged situation, Leverkusen remained unharmed. The team quickly moved to a 3‑0 lead and ultimately won 4‑0 against third‑division side Wehen Wiesbaden. The new rule sparked debate but did not affect the final result.
Conclusion
The debate over the new DFB rule remains in Leverkusen, but both sides emphasize the need to adapt to the guidelines. Players, coaches, and the sporting director are working together to integrate the rule into practice without overly disrupting the game.
